Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41915075›Full record

ArticleSupportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer2026

Healthcare costs in patients with head and neck cancer.

Justin Smith, Madhavi Chilkuri, Daniel Lindsay, Katharina M D Merollini

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Justin SmithTownsville University Hospital, Townsville, QLD, Australia. justin.smith3@health.qld.gov.au.
Madhavi ChilkuriJames Cook University College of Medicine and Dentistry, Townsville, QLD, Australia.
Daniel LindsayQIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
Katharina M D MerolliniSchool of Health, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, QLD, Australia.

Funding

Townsville Hospital and Health Service Study, Education and Research Trust Account (SERTA) 2021_16
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeThe aim of this study was to quantify the healthcare costs of patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) in Australia and investigate factors associated with increased costs.

methodsA sub-study was performed using linked patient data from 'Lifetime Costs of Surviving Cancer - A Queensland Study (COS-Q).' Queensland residents diagnosed with a first primary mucosal head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) between 1997 and 2015 and who incurred costs from 2013 to 2016 were included. Healthcare costs were reported as a total mean cost per patient per year and included emergency department (ED) costs, hospital admission costs, cost for medical and allied health services and pharmaceutical costs.

resultsThere were 4929 patients with HNSCC included in the study. The total mean annual cost was $21,646 per patient with the highest costs in the first-year post treatment. Regional ($23,312) and rural ($33,627) patients experienced higher healthcare costs than those from major cities ($20,300, p < 0.001). Factors strongly associated with an increased overall healthcare cost included living in a remote location (RR 1.51, p < 0.001), having a nasopharynx (RR 1.41, p = 0.027) or hypopharynx (RR 1.60, p < 0.001) cancer or never married (RR 1.34, p < 0.001). There were 644 patients (13%) who developed a second primary malignancy and this sub-group experienced higher overall costs ($46,453 vs $24,966, p < 0.001).

conclusionHealthcare costs for patients with HNC are significant. Further research is needed to investigate ways to reduce healthcare utilisation and provide additional support in this cohort.

Indexed as

Head and Neck NeoplasmsHealth Care CostsSquamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and NeckAdultAgedAged, 80 and overEmergency Room VisitsEmergency Service, HospitalFemaleHospitalizationHumansMaleMiddle AgedQueenslandAustraliaCost of careHead and neck cancerHealthcare costsMedical costs

Identifiers

PMID41915075
PMCPMC13038744

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LicenceCC BY
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.